Being a disciple requires many sacrifices, the most important being Anyone who wishes to be a follower of mine must leave self behind, he must take up his cross, and come with me. This is to be interpreted as us becoming servants, to put your wishes behind the wishes of others and to not want anything except belonging to God. We must be prepared to die for their faith and for God. In this passage Jesus is also inviting us to follow his lead but this can involve suffering, rejection and death. But we will be looked after by God if we believe for Whoever cares for his own safety is lost; but if a man will let himself be lost for my sake and for the Gospel, that man is safe. When the disciples argued over which of them was the greatest Jesus told them the only way to greatness was to serve others I f anyone wants to be first, he must make himself last of all and servant of all. The best example of someone serving others in Mark’s Gospel is the story of the widow at the treasury, were she gave two small coins but this was money that she needed to live on, here she was giving to others without concern for her own welfare.
When Jesus appointed the twelve disciples, twelve to stand for the twelve tribes of Israel. They then accompanied Jesus and he gave them authority, then he sent them out to do missionary. He gave them strict instructions about what they were to do; they were not to bring any, what we would call essentials, such as food or money. They were to put their trust in God that he would provide them with what they needed through other people. As disciples they were sent out to preach repentance, cast out devils and anoint the sick with oil and cure them.
But discipleship is not all suffering and sacrifice, those who are true disciples will receive rewards beyond their wildest dreams, There is no one who has given up home, brothers or sisters, mother, father or children, or land for my sake and the Gospel, who will not receive this age a hundred times as much – houses, brothers and sisters, mothers and children, and land – and persecutions besides; and in the age to come eternal life. This telling us if we are truly committed disciples we will be rewarded many times over. These rewards include a close relationship with God, the fellowship that can be found within the Church community and the greatest reward of all Jesus’ promise of eternal life.
